USPTO Patents Application 08873597

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Currently Pending Claims:
Claims 1-19: (Canceled)

19. (Previously Amended) An apparatus for the detection of target nucleic acids in a test
sample, comprising:

a) a test chamber comprising a first and a second electrode, wherein said first electrode
comprises a single stranded nucleic acid covalently attached to said electrode via an
insulator, wherein said first electrode fiirther comprises a passivation agent monolayer;
and

b) an AC/DC voltage source electrically connected to said first and second electrodes.

20. (Previously Amended) An apparatus for the detection of target nucleic acids in a test
sample, comprising:

a) a test chamber comprising a first and a second electrode, wherein said first electrode
comprises a covalently attached single stranded nucleic acid attached to said first
electrode via an insulator, wherein said first electrode further comprises a passivation
agent monolayer and wherein said nucleic acid further comprises a covalently attached
first electron transfer moiety; and

b) an AC/DC voltage source electrically connected to said test chamber.

21. (Previously Amended) An apparatus according to claim 19, 20 or 26, further comprising:

a processor coupled to said electrodes.

22. (Previously Amended) An apparatus according to claim 19, 20 or 26, wherein said AC/DC
voltage source is capable of delivering frequencies from between about 1 Hz to about 100 kHz.

Claims 23-25: (Canceled)

26. (Previously Amended) An apparatus for the detection of target nucleic acids in a test
sample, comprising:

a) a test chamber comprising a first and a second electrode, wherein said first electrode
comprises a covalently attached first single stranded nucleic acid attached to said first
electrode via an insulator and a passivation agent monolayer;

b) a second nucleic acid covalently attached to an electron transfer moiety; and

c) an AC/DC voltage source electrically connected to said test chamber.
Claims 27-32: (Canceled)

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33. (Previously Amended) An apparatus according to claim 19, 20 or 26 wherein said
passivation agent monolayer comprises conductive oligomers.

34. (Previously Amended) An apparatus according to claim 19, 20 or 26 wherein said
passivation agent monolayer comprises insulators.

35. (Previously Amended) An apparatus for the detection of target nucleic acids in a test
sample, comprising:

a) a test chamber comprising an array of electrodes, each electrode
comprising a covalently attached single stranded nucleic acid,
attached to said electrodes via an insulator and a passivation agent
monolayer; and

b) an AC/DC voltage source electrically connected to said test
chamber.

Claims 36-38: (Canceled)

39. (Previously Presented) An apparatus according to claim 35 wherein said passivation agent
monolayer comprises conductive oligomers.

40. (Previously Presented) An apparatus according to claim 35 wherein said passivation agent
monolayer comprises insulators.

41. (Previously Presented) An apparatus accordingly to claim 19 further comprising,

c) a second nucleic acid covalently attached to an electron transfer moiety.

42. (Previously Presented) An apparatus according to claims 19, 20 or 26 wherein said
passivation agent monolayer comprises alkyl chains.

43. (Previously Presented) An apparatus according claim 42 wherein said alkyl chains have the
formula CnHx, where n is 1 to 30, and x is 2(n),

44. (Previously Presented) An apparatus according to claims 19, 20 or 26 wherein said
passivation agent monolayer comprises terminal groups chosen from the group consisting of -
(CH2)n-, -(CRH)n-, -(CR2)n-, ethylene glycol and ethylene glycol derivatives using other
heteroatoms in place of oxygen; wherein n is greater than 1 .

45. (Previously Presented) An apparatus according to claims 19, 20 or 26 wherein said
passivation agent monolayer comprises both conductive oligomers and insulators.

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